Store-service apparatus



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. G. BOSTEDO.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 426,406. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet. 2.

L. G. BOSTEDO. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

No. 426,406. Patented Apr. 22, 1890.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

LOUIS GARDNER BOSTEDO, OF ATLANTIC, IOII A, ASSIGNOR TO THE BOSTEDOPACKAGE AND CASH CARRIER COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 426,406, dated April22, 1890.

Application filed May 23, 1888. Serial No. 274,823. (No model.)

To all whom it may-concern:

Be it known that I, LOUIS GARDNER Bos- TEDO, a citizen of the UnitedStates, and a resident of Atlantic, in the county of Cass and State ofIowa, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Store-ServiceApparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in the operative devices of packageand cash carriers of the type described in Letters Patent of the UnitedStates No. 369,628, issued to me September 6, 1887, in which type ofapparatus there is employed a two-track system, the tracks being locatedone above the other a proper distance and in the same vertical plane,the upper track being used to convey carriers to the wrapping departmentand the lower track to return them to the salesman. Stations arearranged at intervals along these tracks, and elevators are employed atsuch stations, whereby the cars are raised to the dispatching-track andlowered from the return-track. In this type of apparatus no switches orturn-outs are employed; but instead thereof a free track-section placedin the lower track to bridge the spaces between the fixed sections ofthe track is used and the elevator is hoisted .up through the lowertrack, lifting out this free track-section and carrying said sectionwith it on its Way to the uppertrack. When the carrier is dispatched onthe upper track, the elevator descends and replaces this track-sectionin the lower track, thereby making said track continuous for the passageof cars to other stations. An obj ection to this construction arisesfrom the fact that in its use the elevator in its upward movement isladen not only with the car,

basket, and contents, but with this removable section; and a furtherobjection is that this removable section is in danger of being thrownout of position by accident, such as the violent jerking of theelevator.

My present invention relates to an improvement whereby the elevator withits carrier is permitted to pass through the lower track to the upperwithout the use of a detachable track-section; and in carrying out myinvention I employ a hinged section for the lower track, adapted to beswung out of the way by the passage of the elevator to the upper trackand to be brought back to place to bridge the elevator-gap after theelevator has passed through the lower track in its descent to thesalesmans counter.

In the accompanying drawings, Figurel is a perspective view of a portionof the tracks at a station, showing the elevator at the lower limit ofits movement and below the tracks, and showing the swingingtrack-section in position to bridge the gap in the lower track andmaking said trackcontinuous. Fig. 2 is a similar view, but showing theelevator at the upper limit of its travel, the swinging track-sectionbeing shown open and in position to permit the return of the elevator.

'Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the lower track,

and showing the pivoted section open to permit the passage of theelevator.

At one part of the operation the elevator comes to rest in the gap inthe lower track, and it is provided with a track-section, so that it mayreceive from said track the carrier. As this operation is fullydescribed in Letters Patent of the United States No. 367,951, issued tomyself and Horatio Thomas August 9, 1887, I have not here shown theelevator in the position just described.

In said drawings, Arepresents the forwarding-track, and B thereturn-track, each of which may consist of a single rail. These tracksare in the same vertical plane and are sufficiently far apart to admitof the passage of the car with its dependent basket. At each track A maybe provided with a removable track-section E of the usual construction,or such as shown in the said Patent N 0. 367,951.

Instead of the removable track-section for the lower track. shown insaid patent, Iprovide a track-section F, carried by suitable supportswhich have a torsional connection with a fixed part of the track or withthe yoke G, usually employed to support the ends of the main track-rail.In the form of construction shown in the drawings said trackseotion F isprovided with two supports II II, which are connected to said section onthe side next to the yoke and extend outwardly from the track and awayfrom the track sufficiently to permit the passage of the elevator withits carrier. Said supports carry the rod I, j ournaled in the bracketsorsupports J, one end of which is rigidly secured to a fixed part of theapparatus. The elevator D is provided with an arm d, adapted to engagethe track-section F as the elevator ascends, whereby to turn the saidhinged section back out of the way. In this operation the rod I turns orrocks in its bearings in the brackets J, and to limit the movement Ihave provided rod I with the bent ends 1', adapted to engage thebrackets J. To secure the track-section F in alignment with the abuttingends of the track-rail B, the stops fare employed, secured to thetrack-section F and adapted to engage the yoke G.

To secure the return of the section F to its place after the elevatorhas passed through the lower track in its descent, I may employ an armK, secured to the rod I, through a slot in which the operating-cord L ispassed, said cord being provided with a button below arm K, and saidcord after passing over sheaves at the top of the guide-rod 0 beingsecured to the elevator.

In operation, and supposing the various parts to be in the positionshown in Fig. 1, if it be desired to dispatch a carrier attached to theelevator, the latter is raised by means of the cord L swinging back thehinged section F in its upward passage and raising the removabletrack-section E when it has reached the upper track, upon which itscarrier is dispatched. The elevator is then lowered to a level with thereturn-track B, from which it may receive a carrier, and descending fromsaid track will cause the hinged section F to swing back to its place bymeans of the button 70 pulling on the arm K.

It is obvious that the prineiple of my invention may be embodied invarious forms,

and particularly in the manner of supporting and operating the hingedsection-as, for example, other means may be substituted for the arm cl,and other portions of the swinging section may be operated upon in orderto turn said section out of the way of the elevator.

Other forms and methods of attachment of the supports H, brackets J, andstops 2' may be substituted, and generally the construction of thesubordinate features may be varied without departing from the principleof my invention.

It will be observed that I employ the cord L in the usual way to raiseand lower the elevator; but I cause said cord to perform an additionalfunction-viz., that of replacing the hinged section of track. I preferto provide a slot in arm K through which to pass cord L, so that thelatter may maintain its proper position with reference to the positionof the salesman when the hinged section is thrown back.

I claim- 1. In a store-service apparatus having the forwarding-trackvertically above the returntrack, said return-track having a hinged orpivoted track-section adapted to be swung outwardly from the track topermit the pas-.

7 a hinged or pivoted track-section adapted to be swung outwardly fromthe return-track to permit the passage of the elevator to the forwardingtrack and to be replaced to make the return-track continuous after thedescent of the elevator, substantially as described.

3. In a store-service apparatus in which the forwarding and returntracks are arranged in the same vertical plane, the return-track havinga hinged or pivoted track-section adapted to be swung outwardly fromsaid track by the passage of the car-elevator, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a store-service apparatus in which the forwarding-track andreturn-track are arranged in the same vertical plane, said return-trackhaving a hinged or pivoted tracksection, and a car-elevator adapted toswing said hinged section out of the way of its upward passage,substantially as described, and to return said hinged section to placein its down ward passage.

5. In a store-service apparatus in which the forwarding-track andreturn-track are arranged in the same vertical plane, said return-trackhaving a hinged track-section, sup ports for said section, comprisingbrackets secured to a fixed part of the structure and furnishing abearingfor supports connected to the rail of the hinged section, and acar-elevator adapted to swing said section out of the way of its upwardpassage, substantially as described.

6. In a store-service apparatus in which the forwarding-track andreturn-track are arranged in the same vertical plane, said return-trackhaving a hinged or pivoted tracksection comprising a rail, arms orsupports secured thereto and pivotally connected to supports secured toa stationary portion of the structure, and a car-elevator adapted toswing said section out of the way of its upward passage, substantiallyas described.

7. In a store-service apparatus in which the forwarding-track andreturn-track are arranged in the same vertical plane, said return-trackhaving a hinged or pivoted tracksection adapted to be swung outwardlyfrom the return-track, and a car-elevator having a section of trackadapted to bridge the opening in the return-track caused by the removalof the hinged section, substantially as described.

LOUIS GARDNER BOSTED O.

